Diary Entries of Orville Frost

Company A, 119th Illinois Infantry

February-September 1865
Transcriber notes:
a. Transcribed from the original source document May 2012
b. Spellings are as found with (sic) indicating misspelled works
c. When names and locations are in question, they are marked with an (?)
d. Items in brackets [] are not in the original document and are added for
clarification
________________________________________________________________________
Thursday Feb 9th 1865
Had revale (sic) at 4 oclock. Formed the battalion a little before daylight. Marched down
to the landing went abord (sic) the ____ [name of vessel]. Clear and cold all day.
Friday 10th
Arrived at Paduka (sic) [Paducah, KY] at sunrise. Stayed there for an hour and shoved
out for Cairo [Illinois]. Arrived there about 3 oclock. Stayed there all night. Clear and
pleasant all day.
Sat 11th. Feb 1865
_____ at the landing all day taking on coal and various other things.
Sun 12th
Shoved out from the landing half past 9. Passed Columbus [Kentucky] half past 11.
Passed Hickman [far south-western Kentucky] at 1 oclock. Very ____. Ran on a sand
bar at 8 oclock.
Monday 13th
With the help of the Anglo Saxon we got off the sandbar at 8 oclock. Passed Fort Pillow
[at Henning, TN, 40 miles north of Memphis, TN] at 1 oclock. Passed Fort Lamb at half
past 2. Arrived at Memphis 9 oclock in the evening. Stayed there about an hour then
____ to Ft. ____ to coal.
Tuesday 14 (Feb)
Shoved out half past 4. Passed Helena [Arkansas, only river city between Memphis and
Vicksburg] at 2 oclock. Arrived at White River [Arkansas] landing at 7. Tied up till 11
oclock then shoved off.
Wednesday 15th
Passed Napoleon ___ in the night. Arrived at Vicksburg [Mississippi; heavily fortified
bluff and railway junction] at sundown. Clear and pleasant all day.

Thursday 16th
Disembarked from the boat and marched out about 3 miles east of town and camped near
where we did last year. Clear and pleasant. Vicksburg has improved considerable since
we were here last year.
Friday 17th Feb.
Remained in camp washing our cloths (sic) and cleaning ourselves.
Sat 18th.
Remained in camp.
Sun. 19th
Received marching orders. Marched down to the landing _____ there untill (sic) dark
then went abord (sic) the Pyetta (?). Co. A on the lower deck.
Mon 20th
Left Vicksburg this morning at 4 oclock. Passed Natches (sic) [Mississippi] at 12 oclock.
Clear and pleasant.
Tues. Feb 21
Arrived at New Orleans at 5 oclock. Cloudy all day. Commenced to rain in the evening.
Wed.
Disembarked this morning about 7 miles below New Orleans. Was detailed for __to load
a boat with wood. Cloud and rainy all day. 119th were quartered in old werehouse (sic).
Thurs 23
Remained in camp. Disagreeable and rainy all day.
Fri 24
Remained in camp. Still continues to rain.
Sat 25th
Remained in camp, still remains cloudy.
Feb 26th. Sun.
Clear and pleasant ____ for the first time since _____.
Mon. 27th
Cloudy and rainy today.
28th Tues.
Cloudy this morning but cleared off towards noon and stayed clear all day.

Went to the barracks U.S. Gen Hospital on the 6th of March and returned to duty on the
20th.
March 20th 1865
Left the hospital at 9 oclock. Got on the street and went up to town to Camp D______ .
Got there at 12 oclock. There was a ____ ready to go their command so we went to the
depot. Got abord (sic) the cars. Went out to Lake Poncetrain (sic) Got abord (sic) the
steam White Cloud and started for our command which is ___ off Mobile. It rained
nearly all day. The boat set anchor at dark.
March 21st.
Weigh anchor at dailight (sic) It cleared off about 10 oclock. Ran aground at 5 oclock at
Grants Pass. Lay there all night.
March 22nd
Lay aground all day. Had no labors (sic). The coster (sic) [coaster boats sail between
ports along a coast] Laura took us off to Doffins (sic) Island [Dauphin Island is in
Alabama and was once the capital of Louisiana Territory) at 10 oclock. Reported to the
Provos Martial (sic) [Provost Marshal] and drew rations.
March 23rd.
Left this island at 12 oclock on the steamer Peerless. Got to the coal 5 oclock.
March 24th 1865
Laid in camp. Received marching orders.
25th.
Marched 6 miles to the rebs ______ with the advance party.
26
Marched 8 miles. Skirmished with the rebs nearly all of the day. Went into camp half
past 12.
27th
Marched back 1 miles on the road. Stacked arms about two hours. The 119 and the
122 Ill received order to go _____ two miles to guard the road. Stayed there till night then
moved back ____ most of the day.
March 28th.
Remained in camp. Could hear the rore (sic) of the canons at Ft. Splange (?).
29th.
Remained in camp. We left here to protect the rear and guard the ____. Received orders
to build brestworks (sic) [above ground temporary fortifications built breast high]

30th
Remained in camp. Clear and pleasant. Can here (sic) the ____ canon and small arms
etc.
31st.
Remained in camp. Clear and pleasant. Canonading (sic) [extended, heavy artillery fire]
heavier today then any day previous.
April 1st
Remained in camp.
April 2nd.
Remained in camp.
April 3rd 1865
Broke camp at 12 oclock. Marched up to the Fort near Blakely which was about 6 miles
from where we were camped. Co. A and B sent out on the skirmish line [small group
ahead of the larger body to protect the main group, harass the enemy, and delay enemy
advances]. I was on guard so I did not go out with them.
April 4th
The Co remained on the skirmish line till dark. ______ in camp.
April 5th
We remained in camp till 4 oclock. Then 4 co. of the 199th was sent out to dig rifle pits
on the extreme right of the fort. Co A. was sent out as skirmishers. Stayed there until 3
oclock. Moses Austin wounded slightly.
April 6
Remained out on the reserve until 4 oclock. Then we were relieved. Came back to camp.
Piched (sic) out tents and prepared for a good nights rest.
April 7
Remained in camp. The rebs sent a few shels (sic) this way but all exploded to (sic) short
of us to do any hurt.
April 8
Went on the skirmish line the evening of the 8. Stayed out till dark today. Co. A was sent
out into the rifle pits. Stayed there till morning. We advanced our rifle pits 50 yds. by
digging a ditch then we dug our pits. 15 of the boys crawled out to watch while the rest
worked. Cap. [Harman B.] Hubbard got 30 men from the 89 to dig then and you never
saw men bury themselves quicker than they did.

Sun April 9
We remained in camp until half past 4 oclock then moved out to the rifle pits which had
been dug wide enough to form the reg. two ranks deep. Before our reg. was rightly
formed the word forward was given by Col. [Thomas J.] Kinney. We got out of the ditch
and after them. The fallen timber was so thick that we had to go on top of it on some
planks but we made the trip in good time. Co. A was the first Co. to reach the works.
We lost 7 of our company which is of our number.
J. Meyer [John Myer]
[A. or T.] Watson
E. B. [Edward] Hubbard
J. K. Burk [Josiah Burke]
J. Q. [John Q.] Burleigh
O.T. [Oliver] Hendrickson
R. [Robert] Knight

K
M.W.
W.
W.
W.
W.
W

The reg. lost 16 in all.

[assume notations K=killed, M.W.=mortally wounded, W=wounded]
Mon. April 10th
We remained in camp. I was detailed for guard to keep men off torpedos (sic). Clear and
very warm all day.
April 11th
Remained in camp. Clear and warm.
April 12th
Remained in camp. Clear and pleasant.
April 13
Received orders to march at 10 oclock. Moved out at 11 oclock. Marched 8 miles.
Rained all the morning. Cleared off at 12 oclock and was very warm . We are bound for
Montgomery and Selma [Alabama].
April 14
Marched 13 miles. There is very few houses and them are very poor. Pine timber and
nothing else. Started this morning at 7 clock. Went into camp at half past 3.
15th
Marched 10 miles. Broke camp at 10 oclock and camped at 5 oclock. There was a heavy
thunder storm today.

Sun 16th.
March 14 miles. We left camp at 8 oclock but it was the 1st Brigade turn to guard the
trains so we did not get farely (sic) started till 10 oclock. We camped at half past 5
oclock. Clear and very warm.

Mon April 17th , 1865

Broke camp at 6 oclock. Marched 18 miles. Camped at 4 oclock. We crossed two
creeks. The one we pontooned, the other we waded. The name of the creeks were Big
and Little Combs [?] Clear and very warm. There is plenty of good water. The soil is
very poor and sandy. We passed a schoolhouse today, which is the first one we have seen
since we left Blakely.
April 18th 65
Broke camp at 12 oclock. Marched 10 miles . Got out of the pine timber about noon.
We got into what the citizens call the thick settled part of the country. We camped about
6 oclock.
April 19 65
Broke camp at 9 oclock. Marched 15 miles. A currier [courier] came today and brought
the news that the war was at an end. That Lee, Johnson, and Forest had surrendered their
forces. We heard this about 12 oclock. We camped at 6 oclock.
April 20th
Clear and warm. Broke camp at half past 6. Marched 8 miles and stacked arms at
Stedmans [north of the Florida Panhandle about half way across]. Stayed there till 2
oclock. Then crossed over the bridge which the ___ had made. Marched 4 miles and
camped about 6 oclock. Clouded up toward night.
April 21st. 1865
Broke camp at 11 oclock. Marched 6 miles and camped to let the train come up. It
commenced to rain at 3 oclock in the morning. Continued to rain till 5 oclock this
afternoon. The roads were very mudy (sic). A great many of the teams got stuck in the
mud and quicksand. We got into camp at 2 oclock.
April 22
Mached 8 miles. Broke camp at 11 oclock and camped at 3 oclock. Clear and pleasant.
The roads were tolerably good the way we come. The 119th was rear guard and passed
through Greenville [south central Alabama, county seat of Butler County] about half
past 2 oclock. We got the Greenville Observer of the 22nd which our boys had edited.
Sunday April 23rd 1865
Broke camp 20 minutes past 9. Marched 15 miles and camped at 5 oclock. Clear and
pleasant all day.

April 24
Broke camp at 6 oclock. Marched 18 miles and passed through Sandy Ridge. Camped at
3 oclock . Clear and pleasant.
April 25
Broke camp at 12 oclock. Marched 76 miles and camped at 5 oclock. Clear and very
warm. Passed threw (sic) some very rich country_____ Supposed to be as good as any in
the South. Corn is the main crop.
April 26.
Laid in camp today. Clear and very warm.
April 27th 1865
Broke camp at 8 oclock. Marched 7 miles. Passed through Montgummery (sic) in
colime (sic) by company. Got quite a blow (?) from the ___ for making a splendid
appearance. Camped 2 miles N.E. of town.
April 28
Laid incamp. Expect to stay here sometime. Rained some today. Cleared off about 10
oclock and was very warm. Commensed (sic) digging a well.
A 29th
Clear and warm. The nights are very cool.
April 30th
Clear and warm. Dug a well. Good water in about 11 feet.
May 1st 1865
Remained in camp. Clear and warm.
2nd.
Clear and warm
3rd
4th
5th
6th
31st
June 1st 1865
Broke camp at 5 oclock. Marched 15 miles. Crossed to large creeks. Very hot and dirty.

June 2nd
Marched 18 miles. Passed through Hanesville [Hayneville, county seat of Lowndes
County, Alabama, south central area]. Very warm. Broke camp at 5 oclock.
June 3rd
Marched 19 miles. Passed through Pleasant Hill and camped. We had all the blackberries
we could eat.
June 4
Marched 18 miles _____ providened on the Al. River. Passed through Warrensburg.
Only one boat to take us so 2 reg. had to stay until it came back.
June 5 6 7
We remained at the landing.
June 8
Got aboard the boat about 2 oclock and started for Mobile.
June 9th
Arrieved (sic) at Mobile at 3 oclock. Got of (sic) the boat, marched out to camp south of
the city. It is not a very pleasant place to camp.
10
Remained in camp.
11th
[no entry]
Sat. Aug. 26th
We were mustered out of the U. States Service today at 10 oclock.
Sunday Aug 27th 1865
Got aboard the Warrior at 10 oclock. Laid at the wharf untill (sic) 12 oclock then started
for New Orleans. Stoped (sic) at Daufine (sic) Island and Fort Morgan. Went out into
the Gulf. Arrived at the Mississippi about 9 oclock in the eavening (sic). Rain all night.
Aug 28th 65
Arrived at Fort _____ at 9 oclock this morning. Arrived at the landing at 11 oclock. Laid
there ____ 11 hours then got on the cars and went to New Orleans. Arrived there half
past 4 oclock. Got aboard the Clara Dobson. Shoved out for the landing at 8 oclock.
Run all night.
Aug 29
_____Batton Roush (sic) at 9 oclock. Passed the mouth of the Red River at 6 oclock in
the evening. Run all night. Reached Nachese (sic) at 11 oc at night.

A. 30
Arrived at Vicksburg at 4 oclock in the eavening (sic). Left there at 6 oclock. Run all
night.
Au 31, 65
Passed Napolean about 5 oclock. Run all night.
Sept 1st 65
Arrived Helena at 5 oclock this morning. Stopped there about an hour. Arrived at
Memphis at 7 oclock this eavening (sic). Stayed there two hours then shoved out and ran
all night.
Sep 2
Passed New Madrid at 5 oclock. Passed Island No. 10 at 3 oclock. Arrived at Columbus
12 oclock at night and landed at Cairo at 2 oclock. Passed 6 boats.
Sep 3, 65
Got off the boats at 3 oclock this morning. Laid on the wharf until 12 oclock then got
abord (sic) the cars and started for Springfield [Illinois].
Sep 4th 65
Arrived at Camp Butler at 3 oclock this morning. We mad (sic) the trip in the shortest
time and had the better luck than any reg. that has left Mobile.
Sep. 9th 1865
Received my final discharge and was once more paid off and started for home about 10
oclock at night.
Sep. 10
Arrived at home this morning and my heart was made glad by the kind greeting of my
parents and sisters.

I attest that this is an accurate transcription of the original diary entries with exceptions
noted.
Douglas L. Fugate
June 5, 2012
Bowling Green, KY